Obama fundraiser George Kaiser's big Solyndra ties

POLITICS

Joe Stephens and Carol D. Leonnig, Washington Post

Published
4:00 am PST, Thursday, November 10, 2011

Washington --

A major Obama fundraiser strategized with one of his associates last year about how to get White House and Energy Department assistance for a Fremont solar company in which his family funds had a substantial interest, according to e-mails released Wednesday by House Republicans.

Tulsa, Okla., billionaire George Kaiser advised on how to press officials for federal contracts and additional loan assistance for Solyndra, the failed solar company that left taxpayers on the hook for $535 million in federal loans, the e-mails show. But they also appeared to back up Kaiser's assertion that he did not directly lobby the White House and only advised associates on how to proceed.

The document releases came in two waves, first from Republicans on a House committee investigating Solyndra and then from angry committee Democrats, who argued that a selective release of materials gave a misleading picture of Kaiser's role. Together, the e-mails and interview notes released by battling sides offered the most complete picture yet of Kaiser's access to the Obama administration and his interest in helping Solyndra win additional federal support.

Kaiser worried in February 2010 that his involvement might be questioned if an investigative reporter should discover his connection to Solyndra and link it to the names on President Obama's bundlers list, one e-mail shows. But his associate assured him that because he had not personally lobbied the White House, controversy could be averted.

Kaiser was a bundler for Obama's 2008 campaign and his family foundation was the biggest investor in Solyndra. Republicans investigating the failed solar company have seized on Kaiser's Solyndra connection to allege that Obama donors got preferential treatment under the stimulus program. The White House has denied the allegation.

On Wednesday, Kaiser spokesman Renzi Stone said, "George Kaiser had no discussions with the government regarding the loan to Solyndra."